“Reminders of Him” is a story about redemption; about whether people can truly change, whether others are willing to forgive, and perhaps most difficult of all, whether someone can learn to forgive themselves.

That’s according to the director and stars of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2022 novel, hitting theaters March 13 through Universal Pictures.

Directed by Vanessa Caswill and written by Hoover and producer Lauren Levine, the romantic drama stars Maika Monroe as Kenna Rowan, a young mother returning to her hometown after serving time in prison for a tragic accident that killed her boyfriend. Determined to rebuild her life and reconnect with the daughter she left behind, Kenna quickly discovers that forgiveness can be hard to find.

“She’s lost everything,” Caswill told The Christian Post of the character. “She’s got nothing, and she also kind of hates herself.”

For the director, Kenna’s internal journey from guilt and self-loathing to healing made the story compelling.

“Watching a character go from being broken and sort of cracked open, not feeling whole, and seeing them shift and find light and love in their life is a really beautiful journey,” Caswill said.

Based on Hoover’s bestselling novel, which has sold millions of copies worldwide, “Reminders of Him” follows Kenna as she attempts to rebuild her life despite the stigma surrounding her past.

The film also stars Tyriq Withers as Ledger Ward, a local bar owner who becomes one of the few people willing to listen to Kenna’s story; Rudy Pankow as Kenna’s late boyfriend, Scotty Landry; Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford as Scotty’s parents; and country singer Lainey Wilson in her film debut.

Caswill said she connected to the material as a mother, particularly Kenna’s struggle to reconnect with the daughter she left behind.

“I’m always drawn to stories about mothers and their children,” she said. “And Kenna’s grief at not being able to be the mother she wanted to be was something I really responded to.”

“Colleen is so brilliant at writing flawed characters living in an imperfect world,” Caswill added. “You have compassion for them, you understand them, and you want to root for them.”

Monroe, known for roles in films including “Longlegs” and “Watcher,” said the film’s central message revolves around forgiveness both toward others and toward oneself.

“One of the most important messages in this film is forgiveness,” the 32-year-old actress told CP. “Not only forgiving others, but forgiving yourself.”

“I believe that everyone should be allowed second chances,” Monroe said. “It’s very important to remember that you’re not defined by your mistakes.”

In the film, Ledger, played by Withers, becomes one of the few people willing to see Kenna as more than the tragedy that defines her reputation. The 27-year-old actor told CP he appreciated the story’s emphasis on empathy and redemption. Many misunderstandings, he said, come from assuming one perspective tells the whole story.

“Putting yourself in somebody else’s shoes is what makes this story interesting,” he said. “Kenna does a lot of walking in this movie, and by trying to walk in someone else’s shoes, you learn a lot about their experience.”

“There’s three sides to every story — my side, their side and the truth,” Withers said. “When you give people space to explain themselves, you start to realize not everything is what it seems.”

Much of the transformation into Ledger was physical, from facial hair to tattoos and mannerisms reflecting a man shaped by hardship, Withers said. But it was harder, he added, to capture the emotional nuance of a character navigating complicated feelings toward Kenna.

“The boots, the walk, the bar, the way I pour a shot of tequila,” Withers joked. “I went to mixology school. … The vulnerability [was harder] … embracing the spectrum of emotions, from disdain to absolutely adoring her.”

“The thing that Colleen does so beautifully is she writes about really heavy things,” Caswill said. “But then she pivots, and there are moments of levity and laughter and joy.”

Caswill also said it was important to portray the consequences of the characters’ choices honestly while still inviting audiences to empathize with them. Despite its redemptive themes, “Reminders of Him” is not a faith-based film and is rated PG-13 for sexual content, strong language, drug content and some violent content.

“If we took away the flaws, they wouldn’t be human,” she said, adding that she wants to give hope to viewers who may feel defined by their past mistakes. “They wouldn’t be recognizable to us.”

Hoover’s readers often say they see themselves in the author’s characters, Monroe said, and she hopes the film offers the same sense of connection.

“I hope people can relate to this,” Monroe said. “I hope they find comfort in that. … One of the hardest things in life is learning to forgive yourself. So I hope people can see themselves in the story and walk out with hope.”

“Reminders of Him” opens in theaters nationwide on March 13.